Vergil's epic poem, the Aeneid, was explicitly commissioned by Augustus as a propaganda tool designed to legitimize his reign and promote the values of the Roman Empire. The story of Aeneas, the Trojan hero who fled his destroyed city and settled in Italy, where he established the Roman race, was used to emphasize the divine destiny of Rome and the legitimacy of Augustus' rule as Julius Caesar's rightful heir. Augustus intended the poem to reinforce the values of Roman society, such as loyalty, duty, and piety, while promoting the idea of the Roman Empire as a benevolent and just ruler of the world. However, the figures present in the underworld scene of the Aeneid, specifically Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus and the elder Marcus Claudius Marcellus, were used by Vergil as anti-Augustan propaganda. By using these figures, Vergil represents the future of Rome as being of false truths, where the great Roman values have been eroded. The rise of Augustus gave way to the end of the Roman Republic, leading to Rome's eventual decline and fall. Through his utilization of figures portrayed in the underworld scene, Vergil effectively undermines the legitimacy of Augustus's reign and highlights the pervasive influence of propaganda in sustaining it.
Tacitus' Annals and Histories examine how the Roman Republic era's values eroded and how Augustus used propaganda to bolster his autocratic rule. In Annals, Tacitus wrote that historians were prevented from writing an accurate history of Augustus' reign "by the prevailing spirit of fear, flattery and abasement" (Tacitus, Annals, 1.1). In Histories, Tacitus wrote, "After Actium, […] the historic character disappeared, and genius died by the same blow that ended public liberty. Truth was reduced to the last gasp [...] Adulation began to spread her baneful influence, and a rooted hatred of their ambitious masters rankled in the breast of numbers […] The care of transmitting due information to posterity was utterly lost" (Tacitus, Histories, 1.1). This quotation speaks to the decline of the Republic era's values and the rise of tyrants and empirical leaders who ruled as sole leaders. At its height, citizens of the Roman Republic valued political discourse, government involvement, and thinking for themselves. However, after its fall, Augustus used propaganda to solidify his power and place as the sole ruler of Rome. By using propaganda, Augustus was able to control the narrative surrounding his reign, and he was able to control the mindset of Rome's citizens.
Vergil's inclusion of the elder Marcus Claudius Marcellus in the Aeneid evokes questions surrounding whether Vergil uses him to scrutinize the excesses of Roman power, control, and brutality under Augustus. Despite his military successes during the Second Punic War, Marcellus was also known for his use of ruthless and unnecessary tactics in Syracuse, which his enemies used to have him charged with cruelty before the Roman senate. Marcellus defended himself eloquently and convincingly, stating that the allegations against him were unfounded and that the suffering of the Syracusans was unavoidable, given the circumstances. Nonetheless, his portrayal in the Aeneid raises the question of the erosion of Roman values under Augustus and if Vergil uses Marcellus to criticize the excesses and abuses of Roman power. In the Aeneid, Anchieses states, "My children, do not become accustomed in spirit to such great wars, and do not turn the powerful strength of your country against itself. You be the first to stop – you who take your race from Olympus. Cast the sword from your hand, you who are of my blood" (Vergil, Aeneid, 6.737-741). In this text, Anchieses is speaking to Julius Caesar; however, it could be interpreted as Vergil speaking to Augustus. This statement fits along with the inclusion of Marcellus, and Vergil's decision to include Marcellus in the Aeneid may serve as a cautionary tale to Augustus regarding the perils of forsaking the core principles of the Republic and embracing an empirical regime. Anchises' exhortation to Julius Caesar, "Cast the sword from your hand, you who are of my blood," which could also apply to Augustus, underscores the need for moderation within warfare and a return to traditional values. Vergil might have feared that Rome, consumed by its quest for dominance and territorial expansion, risked losing its essence and inviting its downfall. By doing this, Vergil underscores the significance of staying true to the values of the Republic while adapting to the changing realities of the Empire. When describing Marcellus in the Aeneid, Vergil states, "Look at Marcellus, proud in choice spoils/Torn from the vanquished enemy commander,/Towering triumphant over the crowd" (Vergil, Aeneid, 6.1020-6.1023). This quotation highlights the abundance and excess of the later Republic era. Vergil choosing to talk about Marcellus this way could speak to some of the issues many Romans had with leaders seeking too much individual power and glory for themselves. Thus, the inclusion of Marcellus in the Aeneid prompts speculation as to whether Vergil employs him as a tool to critique the abuse of power and savagery prevalent under Augustus' reign.
Scipio Africanus, a prominent figure in Roman politics and military affairs, left an indelible mark on history with his successes in the Second Punic War. Scipio Africanus was a military commander and politician from one of Rome's great patrician families with a distinguished career. He was the leading cause of Rome's victory in the Second Punic War, in which the Romans defeated Carthage. Scipio also defeated the famous Hannibal in one on one combat. He earned the title "Africanus" for his conquest of Africa. During the Roman occupation of Spain, Scipio portrayed Rome as a liberator, not a conqueror. After the defeat of Carthage, he gained the consulship despite being too young for the esteemed position.
In 192, Rome entered a war with Antiochus. However, In the 190s BC, the aristocratic elite also attempted to restrain individual ambitions, resulting in some power disputes in Rome. Critics met Lucius Scipio's triumph after this war with opposition. Some asserted that the Scipiones had engaged a weak adversary and had already triumphed at Thermopylae a year earlier. Despite the challenge, Lucius Scipio's triumph was approved. However, the Senate rejected his proposal to oversee the settlement of Asia. During his triumph, Lucius Scipio brought an enormous amount of loot into the city, triggering concern about the potential misuse of these funds for lavish individual purposes. His legal problems were part of a broader discussion about the limitations of magistrates' power overseas, especially concerning war funds. In the Senate, Scipio Africanus was challenged to account for the money allotted to his troops during the Antiochene campaign. He vehemently refused to present his account books and declared that he owed no reckoning. There are also stories about one of the tribunes filing charges against Scipio Africanus for bribery and theft, but the integrity of these tales remains uncertain. Scipio died in self-imposed exile, feeling disgusted in response to the accusations brought against him. Scipio Africanus's inclusion in the Aeneid as a figure accused of bribery and dishonesty highlights the erosion of Roman values that ultimately led to the fall of the Republic, contributing to the idea that Rome's greatness is a facade built on lies and deceit.
While the Aeneid emphasizes the responsibility of future Romans to establish peace, spare the humbled, and conquer the proud, the inclusion of Scipio Africanus and Marcellus also underscores the idea of false truths, showcasing the erosion of Roman values emphasized in the text. In book 6, Anchieses states that the job of future Romans is to "establish peace, to spare the humbled, and to conquer the proud" (Vergil, Aeneid, 6.1017-6.1018). However, at the end of book 6 of the Aeneid, Vergil has Aeneas pass through the ivory gates, where false truths ensue. Due to this, it is clear that Vergil uses the Roman heroes Scipio Africanus and Marcellus to underscore this idea of delusion and false truths. Lies and untruthfulness have underscored both of these extraordinary Romans' lives and their lives also juxtapose the above statement. Marcellus was accused of brutality in Syracuse and did not "spare the humbled," as stated in Anchises’ quote. Further, Scipio Africanus did not merely "conquer the proud" or "establish peace" as he was accused of bribery, and let his war drag on so he could gain more glory and loot. Aeneas passing through the ivory gates elucidates the true meaning behind including these heroes in the Aeneid, showcasing the erosion of the Roman values emphasized in the text.
The inclusion of Scipio Africanus and Marcellus in the underworld scene of the Aeneid can be seen as a critique of Augustus' reign and his apparent disregard for the values of the Roman Republic era. The portrayal of these "great" Roman heroes as liars highlights the erosion of truth and integrity in Augustus' leadership and the empirical period. Including Scipio Africanus and Marcellus within this scene ultimately calls into question the legitimacy of Augustus' power and his impact on Roman society. Including criticized and controversial figures accused of wrongdoing allows Vergil to connect Augustus to the fall of the Republic and the subsequent erosion of Roman values, ultimately making the Aeneid serve as anti-Augustan propaganda.
Comments